Android app updates are very important and all your app should be updated to keep up with all the changes, including the security-related ones. As an app continues to be developed, these updates are provided to add new things and fix previous bugs. These updates may involve, Bug fixes, new features and new look to apps. Developers try their best to address all bugs and add new features to the apps to make sure users have best experience and functionality.
With a tiny amount of work, users can make sure to get timely updates to get the best experience so developers’ efforts don’t go to waste. There are two different ways, Automatic and Manual, and both have their own pro and cons.
Updating Apps Automatically
Automatic updates are definitely the easiest option, perfect for people who don’t want to bother with the slower manual process. It can be quite hard for People who have tons of apps to go through each app to update them by hand. Setting your apps to automatic update is quite simple and can be easily done right in the Google Play Store.
The only reason for not updating automatically is when you fear that an update will break a critical feature that you need. It’s rare, but it may happen. Keep that in mind. Developers can screw things up too!
To set up automatic updates, go to Google Play Store app ( it’s the one with a “white shopping bag” on it).
There you will have to Slide out the menu by Swiping from left to right. Make sure that you swipe from the end of the screen and not from middle, otherwise you will just end up on Categories. Once there, tap on Settings at the end of the menu. In Settings, tap on Auto-update apps.
A new menu will pop up where there will be three options “Do not auto-update apps”, ”Auto-update apps at any time. Data charges may apply” and “Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only. To update Automatically you will have to choose one of the later two options, However, both will have different effects.
Auto-update apps at any time: If this option is selected, the apps will be updated as soon as they release and for this purpose they can use both phone’s data plan and Wi-Fi. Although, Wi-Fi will be given priority and if it’s not available then Data plan will be used to update the app. However, it is not recommended as it can use lots of data on something which is not compulsory to update right away.
Auto-update apps over Wi-Fi only: As the name suggests, apps will only be updated when the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi connection.
Now, from these two options just tap on the one which fits you best and it will be automatically selected. Wi-Fi is typically free, so if your data subscription is expensive or has a low cap, Wi-Fi is best.
The process is still not completely automatic, however, if an update comes that require any additional permissions, you will first provide the permissions manually and then it will be updated.
Automatic updates are definitely the best way to ensure all your app are up-to-date without sacrificing on privacy as permissions are asked manually.
Updating Apps Manually
Automatic updates do make the process a snap but there are still some people who will prefer manual updates. Manual updates has its own advantages and the best one will be the control it provides.
Sometimes it is better to read the change logs before updating the app as you might not like the changes and you can just ignore the update. Although, updates are made to provide better experience but still there is a tiny chance that you might prefer ignoring the update. You might even like checking out reviews of other people on the update as new update can also lead to bugs and other issues.
To update manually the process is same as Automatic updates. Just slide out the menu from left in Google Play Store and tap on Settings. There tap on Auto-update apps.
This time select “Do not auto-update apps”, this will make stop auto updating apps.
To make this feature work properly, you also need to make sure that Notifications option is checking under Settings.
If notifications are not enabled, you will not receive any notification about an app having a new update. This means you will have to manually check each app everyday to ensure they are updated (you don’t want to get in that hassle now do you?).
Now, whenever a new update will be available for an app, you will be notified in the notification bar. All you have to do is tap on the notification and you will be taken to the App page to see what’s new.
Filed in . Read more about Android and Google Play Store.